EXO-CBX’s legal rep lawyer Lee Jae-hak and law firm LIN announced on June 5, 2023, that Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin have filed a complaint to the Fair Trade Commission on June 4, 2023 against their former agency SM Entertainment for “abuse of superior bargaining position,” and diving deeper into the claims of SM Entertainment employing “slave contracts” to their artists.
A part of their full statement reads, “We requested a strict investigation into SM’s violations and prompt corrective measures to correct them, and furthermore, we requested a complete investigation into the exclusive contracts of SM’s artists. In 2023, SM is continuing the actions that the commission had deemed as business malpractice in 2007 and 2011.”
Law firm LIN’s statement also included a message from the EXO members themselves saying, “We filed a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission with the hope that our small courage will be of help for the establishment of a fair popular culture [industry] and for the sake of junior artists.”
In response to this, SM Entertainment had shared their decision on EXO-CBX’s statement, saying that they will provide the members’ earnings and payment records in the condition that the three will not use the records for other than reviewing the settlement details. The agency had also said that they will do their best to not interfere with EXO’s activities.
EXO-Ls rejoiced in this preliminary victory for Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, and for what it means for EXO and SM Entertainment artists. At the same time, EXO-Ls still called for the “freedom” of all EXO members from SM Entertainment.
EXO's Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin's lawyer reveals an official complaint was filed at the Fair Trade Commission against SM Entertainment:
“We requested a strict investigation into SM's violations and prompt corrective measures to correct them, and furthermore, we requested a full… pic.twitter.com/NbkQ3n7x5A
— Pop Base (@PopBase) June 4, 2023
EXO CBX explanations in detail
A thread: pic.twitter.com/Dhs6h1AtEk— 𝐄𝐗𝓞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐃 (@Kyoongs_Luv) June 5, 2023
“We will leave it up to the public & our precious fans to decide whether us mustering up the courage to speak up for our rights is truly an act of betrayal to the EXO members. Above all, we are not afraid of anything if we have our fans with us.”
Always support & stand by CBX 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/Av6M0MgdDn
— 쉰花 ❄️ (@xunhuas) June 5, 2023
I am shock how a company can be this evil to the point of forcing Baekhyun to sign the contract by making him feel bad as if he didn't sign EXO activities and as a whole's payment would be compromised….
Following the full stance from CBX's Lawyer pic.twitter.com/SVdLh3fdIS
— Dan (@rosesrkjm) June 5, 2023
https://twitter.com/THEENANZ/status/1665701783220506626?s=20
OOMF saying “They made EXO quickly sign so that they can have better offer from kakao” , oh wait a minute pic.twitter.com/uu0uQXpqys
— ㄹCBX (@THEENANZ) June 5, 2023
So sm has been exploiting their basic rights for 11 years now, they made them sign slave contracts, extended contract period illegally, gaslighted them into renewing their contracts, tried to escape the situation by making it exo vs cbx. This company is hell itself. FREE MY MEN
— aleeza | free cbx (@exorelics) June 5, 2023
see? my boys will never ever be the bad guys you ALL want them to be
JUSTICE FOR EXO CBX #WeStandWithCBX #WeStandWithChen #WeStandWithBaekhyun #WeStandWithXiumin pic.twitter.com/1Dg2J4pfkJ
— bria stands with CBX💫 (@erixexo9) June 5, 2023
The ending lines to the new statement from CBX's lawyer 😭😭😭😭😭😭
We, EXO members and EXO-Ls, are one. Nothing SM says or does will make us believe in them more than our own EXOs.#WeStandWithCBX pic.twitter.com/w5RYJYfLmo
— mara🌼🐶 (@zhoumara_622) June 5, 2023
EXO CBX lawyer statement –
– EXO CBX decided to pass the case to Fair Trade Commission (FTC)
– FTC issued corrective orders against SM in Oc 2007 & Jan 2011, SM has been ignoring
– this decision not only for them but they also consider abt other artists and trainees future pic.twitter.com/1FXle8NhkT— _61bbh 'ㅅ' (@sbbbh61) June 5, 2023
Message from CBX to EXO-Ls 🥹😭
"We value EXO members more than anything else. We will never betray such members, and we will put EXO first in any situation."
"Above all, if we have our fans, we are not afraid of anything." pic.twitter.com/j5269jtAHq
— chanyeollie's 🍒 (@lezkeepitloey) June 5, 2023
sment is trying sooooo hard to alienate cbx from exo, making them seem selfish esp now that sment will give them access to financial statements (that they can’t share outside of themselves i.e other members and idols at sment)
— ◌ (@bluestparadise) June 4, 2023
All these years we support EXO all members. At this time the situation affects all members, including CBX. In the face of injustice & controversy we hope all EXO-L to stand together for all members with full trust, & voice our unwavering love for EXO.@weareoneEXO @B_hundred_Hyun pic.twitter.com/nAZ2WPdWrd
— EXOKLM_1485 (@EXO_KLMvoting) June 5, 2023
CBX address fans to explain their view of what occured
"Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen would like to explain in detail the process to EXO fans who are having chaotic and anxious days with worrying news, not happy news."
— ✶⧖ (@sebaekyeoll) June 5, 2023
I am so angry towards this new response..
SM refute slave contract and mentioned parts of cbx statement are not true
– they mentioned EXO included cbx not forced to renew contracts as they bring their lawyer and amend the details
– another point below and I am so pissed pic.twitter.com/bPgxspDG6c— _61bbh 'ㅅ' (@sbbbh61) June 5, 2023
Tbh S/.m pr team is the worst they tried hard to make it as EXO vs CBX but in the end it gave more evidence that EXO is with CBX
Eg: the newest statement purposely mentioned how hard to share statement to cbx thats why they need exo understanding but they are all agreed 😭
— _61bbh 'ㅅ' (@sbbbh61) June 5, 2023
“We will do our best not to interfere with EXO's activities that fans expect” https://t.co/VlQ3kNjXei pic.twitter.com/6j1XIEsqch
— soph 🍒 | CBX ❤️ (@rosesareloey) June 5, 2023
EXO, we are all here to support you no matter what! We all stand with Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin!
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